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ryan@fourwingsphotography.com

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Filtering by Tag: Red Barn at Hampshire College

Catherine and Gillian's Intimate Red Barn Wedding at Hampshire College

Ryan Williams


How did you two meet? Nearly three years ago, we were both convinced that we needed a hiatus from serious relationships. After our respective breakups, we both logged into OKCupid thinking that we could set up one or two casual dates during the holiday season. I (Catherine) was visiting a college friend in what happened to be Gillian's hometown on my way back to England, where I'm from. Gillian was about to return from a term abroad and spend the vacation at home. We exchanged a few short messages online, not initially realizing that we went to partner schools on the opposite side of the state. In hindsight, both of us knew within a few hours of talking that something different was happening, and within a few days of nearly nonstop Skype calls, I was almost certain that she was the one for me. We met, finally, on a cold January evening in our small college town where we both went to school (Northampton), just hours after I returned to the USA.

  • How did they pop the question? Over the three years we spent together, we both knew we wanted to get married, but that timing our engagement was vital to making it work. About a year in, Gillian moved to NYC for work, and I was finishing up my PhD and driving every weekend to see her. We developed some traditions early on that made us feel connected and joyful. For instance, whenever we had spare time, we would return to Northampton to hike to an outcrop that overlooked the ox-bow river and the whole town. In autumn the New England foliage was stunning, and snow hikes were arduous but wonderful. After each hike, we would climb back down and get food from a small burger place called LOCAL Burger that has AMAZING fried pickles. Six months after we met, I bought an engagement ring for Gillian and squirreled it away. A year later, she did the same. This summer, three years after meeting we were able to move in together, as we finally converged upon the same city again. The time was right, and we could both feel it. I asked Gillian to "think about something she might want to say to me in the next few months," took both rings, and put them deep in a hiking bag to wait. On Sunday, August 13th, we were in our college town, and decided to go for a hike. Anticipating this, I had purchased a nice bottle of champagne and given it to LOCAL burger to hold for us, and we hiked up to the outcrop overlooking the town where we met, a beautiful ox-bow (that looked like a ring), and the quiet of rustling leaves and birdsong. While I (Catherine) may have chosen the moment, we both proposed to one another and spent a wonderful, warm afternoon in the woods and in our favorite places in town. Not only did we have champagne, but many of the vendors in town, who remember us from college, gave us celebratory tea, food, and wine. What’s best is that we can always return to that spot and see both the town where our love began and the great expanse of what locals call the "happy valley." It couldn't have been more perfect.

  • What was your favorite moment(s) from the wedding? One of Gillian's favorite moments from the wedding was the recessional after we were officially married, and the huge bubble of joy that led her to raise her arms in triumph! The ceremony was such a whirlwind that walking past the faces of all of our friends and family as a married couple felt like a strange moment of realization and excitement that really hit home. Gillian really loved being able to show her excitement and hear the cheer from the crowd at her pose (that Catherine mirrored)! Catherine's favorite moments took place on the dance floor and with the getaway car! The first dance and a few of the subsequent dances were so fun and intimate. Dancing with friends, family, and Gillian all wove together and organically morphed into some wonderful moments like dipping Gillian at the end of "Lady Marmalade," slow dancing to "New Year's Day," and spinning her mother during the mother-daughter dance. Another fun moment for Catherine was taking photos with the getaway car, a 1955 Chevy! It was such a stunning color and a dream of Catherine's to have a vintage car sweep us away for the honeymoon!

  • How long have you been together? Four and a half years (five in December).

  • How would you describe your overall wedding experience? Our wedding experience was both peaceful and overwhelming. There were so many moments of romance, of wild fun, and of complete exhaustion that having great vendors and friends around you is vital.

  • What advice would you offer to other couples planning a wedding? Be deliberate and thoughtful about your vendors and your bridespeople (consider who will help you set the tone and be reliable on the big day). We were so glad we planned far enough out that we were able to surround ourselves with the best of the best. Also, let your photographers pull you away for a few brief moments together on the day--it goes so quickly!

  • What photography-related advice would you offer to a couple? On your first sweep or two of the Knot and Wedding Wire vendors, go for skill with the camera, and style, and when you start doing in-person interviews (we narrowed it down to three), go with your gut about who will make you feel most comfortable, and who will be most capable on the day. We were not at all disappointed with our choice, the team we had (Ryan and Leslie) were quirky, funny, sweet, creative, and capable). 100% the right choice for us!

  • Tell us about your dress! Where did you find it, how did you choose it, how did you know it was the one? Gillian: I found my dress at BHLDN in Chestnut Hill (MA), I had already looked in NYC and at other traditional and smaller stores in Boston, but the BHLDN dress worked best in terms of fit, elegance, and style. I didn't want a big floaty mass of fabric or anything too grand, I wanted something natural and flowy, that was off-white but not a vibrant color. In short: I wanted something that felt like me. I also got a dress topper for after the ceremony in the evening to change my lookup and add an extra touch of fun. Catherine: I opted for a suit instead of a dress. I tend to dress in a more masculine-of-center style, and it felt most comfortable and true to me. Rather than try to get a woman's suit (which is often too tight or weirdly cut), or a men's suit (which would be too boxy and the wrong size), I went to Bindle & Keep in NYC to get a bespoke suit made for my stature, and according to my personal style. Bindle & Keep are an amazing team of expert tailors and I got to choose the fabric, the lining, the piping, the style, the cut, and everything else you can imagine. It was an incredible experience and I couldn't recommend them enough. They work with all people and body types and have a series featured on HBO for their work with the LGBTQ community called "Suited."

  • Did you see each other before the wedding? If not, did you like waiting or would you have rather done it differently? Tell us why or why not! We did the first look while was sweltering outside, but it was worth it! The moment I turned and saw Gillian, I didn't get overwhelmed like many marriers do. I wasn't in the least surprised by how radiant and beautiful she looked, but I loved having a private moment to see the details of her dress, her hair, and see how she was looking at me, too.

  • What was the first song you danced to as husband and wife? Father-daughter dance? Mother-son dance? We danced to Kina Grannis's "Valentine." We have loved the song for years, and it worked well for the first dance as a married couple because it is under three minutes long, and it had an easy beat to choreograph a few steps to.

  • What kind of food was served at your reception? We did a buffet with salmon, chicken, and vegetarian options, a vegetable medley, summer salad, and stuffed baked potatoes! The dessert was simply our wedding cake, which was from La Fiorentina Bakery and was DELICIOUS!

  • What were you most anxious/nervous/fearful about regarding your wedding day? What was the outcome? We were both nervous about managing our mass amount of family members during the photographs and the wedding itself because so many were coming from far away (Athens, London, the west coast) and there were young children. Luckily, our photographer (Ryan) and our wedding coordinator at the Red Barn were excellent at people management and we had no problems whatsoever.


 
 
 

Sara and Jim's Wedding at the Red Barn at Hampshire College

Ryan Williams

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James (better known as Jim) and Sara were married on October 2nd, with a ceremony and reception at the Red Barn at Hampshire College.

Sara and Jim met at Stearns Square Bike Night eight years ago, and once they started dating—that was it! Jim proposed over playing cards in a cabin in Vermont, and then I was so honored to be asked to be a part of their wedding. 

On the day of the wedding, James and Sara were a little nervous about doing a first look. They weren’t sure that they wanted to do it, but it ended up being their favorite part of the day! They were far more relaxed, and they were able to spend time with friends and family that they didn’t see very often. 

From there, it was clear that the two of them were just focused on family and on each other. It was amazing to see the two of them truly get to relax and enjoy every moment as it came. 

Sara & James, thank you so much for the honor of being part of your day! Your wedding was full of love, family, and warmth, and I loved being able to capture it for you! 

Vendors:

Hair: Salon Accent

Makeup: Divine Elegance Beauty Boutique and Spa (Alyssa Amati)

Cake: Atkins Farms and Pete's Sweets (groom’s cake)

DJ: Chris-Mouse Gaumond

Dress Boutique: Bridal Corner

Groomswear: Jackson and Connor

Caterer: Seth Mias Catering

Florist: Mark Henry Florist

Michele and Alyssa's Wedding at the Red Barn at Hampshire College

Ryan Williams

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Michele and Alyssa were married on November 05, 2016 with their ceremony and reception at the Red Barn at Hampshire College in Amherst, MA.

Michele's brother was Alyssa's best friend in college and from there it was a match made in heaven. When planning the proposal, Alyssa created a dog collar for Michele's dog, Tigger. After a romantic walk, Tigger helped pop the question!

Michele and her mom had been out shopping for a wedding dress quite a bit. While Michele desperately wanted to be done shopping for a dress and was ready to settle, they found Modern Bride and Formal Shop. When Michele put on her dress she immediately wanted to take it off because she knew if she left it on a second longer she would burst into tears all over the dress. It was very clear she wasn't settling for a dress but had truly found the perfect one. The proof is in the pictures. She looks absolutely stunning in every one.

Michele and Alyssa chose to do a first look before the ceremony because they knew it would help ease their nerves. They both appreciated that time together without any distractions. We made sure that they had our time to quietly speak their personal vows to each other and take a moment to simply be themselves.

Their first dance as a married couple was to Zac Brown Band’s “Whatever It Is” and the couple was all smiles. Their love lit up the room. The wedding was such a fun and exciting day. Michele and Alyssa said that there were so many moments when they would pause and know that they were surrounded by love and pure happiness.

They also had some advice to share:

“Our advice to other couples about photography is to hire Four Wings Photography! Ryan and Ian made our day so enjoyable with their upbeat, down-to-earth personalities. We trusted them with not only taking the perfect pictures but also all advice on what other vendors to work with and how to make the day run smoothly, it was the best choice we could have made. When planning your wedding, relax and know that everything will come together. Just have fun with it!”

We’re so thankful for their endorsement. Michele and Alyssa, it was so much fun to capture your wedding. Thank you for letting us be a part of it and we wish you a lifetime of happiness!

Special thanks to all the outstanding vendors:

Second Shooter: Ian Pouliot 
Hair: Michelle Anne Hair Design
Makeup: Crystal Vazquez & Company
Dress: Modern Bride & Formal Shop
DJ: Lights At Night Entertainment
Cake: Atkins Farms Country Market
Flowers: Dandelions
Caterer: Seth Mias Catering